The NES Classic Mini has been released today, 11/11/16 at major retailers across the country. This seems to have been a very limited release, and most locations are already out of stock. We will not be stocking the NES Classic Mini unless someone trades it in. Before you take to eBay and pay an outrageous price for this hot holiday gift, let us talk you down and show you the alternative options that we have in stock every day.

Things to know about the NES Classic Mini

The NES Classic Mini is small and the MSRP is $59.99. The console itself is around the same width of a classic controller. The NES Classic Mini can hook up to your flat screen televisions via HDMI. In addition to the enhanced graphics, you can now save games at any point – negating the need for those annoying passwords we all hated. The console has 30 of your favorite classic games built in, including titles like Super Mario 3, Kirby’s Adventure, and Pac-Man. While it does have 30 great games, those are the only games you will ever be able to play on this console. There is no online store to download additional titles and it does not have the ability to play classic cartridges. Here is a list of the only thirty games you can play on the NES Classic Mini:

Balloon Fight

BUBBLE BOBBLE

Castlevania™

Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest™

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong Jr.

DOUBLE DRAGON II: THE REVENGE

Dr. Mario

Excitebike

FINAL FANTASY®

Galaga™

GHOSTS‘N GOBLINS™

GRADIUS™

Ice Climber

Kid Icarus

Kirby’s Adventure

Mario Bros.

MEGA MAN™ 2

Metroid

NINJA GAIDEN®

PAC-MAN™

Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream

StarTropics

SUPER C™

Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. 2

Super Mario Bros. 3

Tecmo Bowl™

The Legend of Zelda

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Know your options

Here are Matt’s Game Exchange we offer several alternative options to get your retro fix. Feel free to stop by one of our stores and speak with our expert staff to find the best available option for you. Continue reading for the breakdown.

The Original Nintendo Entertainment System

Way back in 1985, Nintendo released the original NES. The original NES sold cartridge based games and turned out over 700 games in total. That means only 4% of the total NES library is available on the Classic Mini. Another benefit to the original NES is just that – it is the original. We carry all of the original NES accessories (like the light gun, which only works with old school TVs) that are not available for the NES Classic Mini. The original NES can be used on many of today’s flatscreen TVs with the AV cable, or you can purchase a converter to make it compatible with HDMI ports. The original NES is available for $59.99, and we can make a custom bundle for you with any of the games we have in stock.

Retron and Retron 2

Pictured above (left) is the Retron. The Retron is third-party system that can play all of the original NES cartridges. It is also compatible with all of the original NES accessories. This is available in our stores for $24.99, or we can add a copy of Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt for $29.99. Pictured above (right) is the Retron 2. This is also a third-party console that will play the original NES games. In addition, it will play all of your favorite Super Nintendo games as well. The Retron 2 is available in store for $59.99, and as always, we can make a custom bundle for you with your favorite video games.

Nintendo Wii and Wii U

The Nintendo Wii (available in store for $49.99) and Wii U (available in store for $200) are very versatile systems, both of which have a “Virtual Console” store, where you can purchase and play nearly 400 of your favorite classics available from a wide variety of systems (NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, and more!). Games in the virtual console run anywhere from $4.99-$9.99, and are stored on your console.

In conclusion

Now that you know all about the NES Classic Mini alternatives available at Matt’s Game Exchange, be sure to stop by and speak with our expert staff to find out which option is best for you.